All Whites to play Iran in Challenge Cup

New Zealand will play Iran home and away for the Asia-Oceania soccer Challenge Cup early next year.

The first leg will be played in Auckland on March 28 and the second leg in Tehran on April 4, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) media officer Peter Rees said today.

The inaugural tournament in 2001 was played between Australia and Japan in a one-off match at the Ecopa stadium in Shizuoka.

Japan won 3-0 on that occasion.

The Asia Oceania Challenge Cup will continue to be a regular fixture every two years.

The winners of the OFC Nations Cup will represent Oceania at future Challenge Cups, with the Asian representatives alternating between the winners of the Asian Cup and the winners of the Asian Games.

Iran are the current Asian Games champions, while Japan hold the Asian Cup.